eyes to the sky

11.09.13

Earth-Bound Satellite Burns Up

Getty

Close one. A 2,000-pound satellite re-entering Earth's atmosphere Sunday night burned up upon arrival, according the European Space Agency. The Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (known as GOCE) had a pretty good chance of landing in the ocean, though pieces could have landed on inhabited land. After running out of power Oct. 21, the satellite began hurtling back toward Earth, crossing over Siberia, the western Pacific Ocean, eastern Indian Ocean, and Antartica.